Monday, September 29, 2014

This past week I had to opportunity to interview a member
from one of the stakes in our mission. He was baptized several years ago and
has remained fairly active in the Church. He was fellowshipped by the members
of his ward and given opportunities to serve others. He has established
friendships that have helped him and blessed his life. He expressed to me his
belief that the gospel is perfect and the Church is true. At one time he was
strongly considering serving a full-time mission. Despite all of this, he has
been troubled by nagging feelings that he had been pressured and manipulated at
the time of his baptism. He has been so consumed by these intense feelings that
he is actually contemplating leaving the Church. As he related to me his
recollection of the events at the time of his baptism, I could understand why
he would be struggling with such feelings. In his mind, the missionaries had
treated him more like a statistic than someone they loved.

Since our recent zone conference, many of you have commented
in your letters about my invitation to “measure all that we do according to our
missionary purpose.” I have appreciated your thoughts and insights. I would
like to share with you two excerpts from emails that I received this week:

“Drawing from my own experience as a convert and the
perspectives expressed to me by other recent converts I have befriended … I
think nearly every convert at one point or another of their conversion will
wonder if they are being manipulated or tricked in some way. This question will
persistently hang in the back of their mind, even if they are not constantly
thinking or wondering about it…It's unfortunate that in my correspondence with
some of my convert friends (who were at one point or another struggling to
adjust to our faith) some of them have expressed contempt at techniques used by
their missionaries which they have felt were dishonest or coercive.
Unfortunately fixation upon these unpleasant and unnecessary experiences have
become for them stumbling-blocks, detracting them from tasting the goodness of
the gospel and enduring on the simple path paved by Christ.”

“It has been such an honor and joy to serve with Sister
________.... She has inspired me to be a better missionary, and a holier
person. We have actively worked together to focus all our thoughts on Christ
and our mission. To not compare to others, to say nothing negative or
sarcastic, or about the past or future (on or off mission). I've truly felt
numbers become simply a measurement, nothing that controls us nor we try to
control. The lessons and new investigators have just happened by the hand of
the Lord as we try to keep our spiritual eyes and ears open.”

When Sister Blickenstaff and I attended the mission
president’s seminar in February, Elder Holland reminded us that, “this work is
a labor of love, and must be a labor of love.” On page 10 of Preach My Gospel
we learn that one of the ways we can know we are a successful missionary is if
we “love the people and desire their salvation.” Moroni taught that charity is
the “pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47) and invited us to “pray unto the Father
will all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love” (Mor.
7:48).We learn in PMG that as we
strive to develop charity and live righteously, our “love for all people will
increase, especially those among whom [we] labor” (PMG, pg. 118).

We will find greater fulfillment and joy in this work as we
strive to serve in the Lord’s way and to follow His example in all things.
Thank you for your faith and diligence and for striving to let the pure love of
Christ be your motivation for all that you do.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

We are so grateful for our Taiwanese missionaries! If it weren't for these three young servants of the Lord, we wouldn't be picking up any missionaries due to visa delays. All of our 21 American Taichung missionaries have been reassigned to other missions in the states, but hopefully only for one transfer! We have hope and faith that they will come soon! Please keep them in your prayers!

Saying goodbye to their translator in the Philippine MTC:

Morning mile run at the track:

Buddha claps:

P90X Yoga:

Warrior One:

Huddle:

Ready to start the day!

Morning Orientation:

Lunch from Thefreen Burger:

APs train on contacting:

Practicing with their trainers:

President hands out the red envelopes with the names of their first companion and area:

Monday, September 22, 2014

It was great seeing you this past week as we held zone
conferences. I love the quick moment that I had with each of you as I shook
your hand and looked into your eyes. I asked for the gift of discernment to
know how you are doing. I loved the opportunities that we had to share our
thoughts and learn together as we discussed the various topics. I always come
away with a feeling of gratitude and reassurance after zone conferences. I am
grateful to have so many missionaries who are faithful, dedicated, and
understand their purpose.I feel
reassured that so many of you are doing and learning great things as you serve
the Lord and the people in your area.

As I prepared for our meetings last week, one phrase stuck
with me. It was something that Elder Bednar said in his talk in this year’s
seminar for new mission presidents. He said we should “interact to edify.” As I
talk with you and read your letters each week, I love hearing of instances
where missionaries courageously stand for what is right. It is not always
necessary to “wield a sword” or do something dramatic in
order to stand for truth and righteousness. Sometimes just a kind word, a
dignified manner, or refusing to argue, criticize or engage in negative talk is
a powerful means of inspiring others to be their best self. I am so grateful
for missionaries who interact to edify others.

As I read your emails each week, I find some of your
insights, experiences and comments so inspiring that I save them for future
use. A paragraph or a few sentences saved each week…now the document is 21
pages! My only regret is not having started keeping this record earlier in my
service. Here are two excerpts from last week’s letters:

“As I
have recently started the Book of Mormon over again I just wanted to share a
couple things I learned from the first chapter of Nephi about How to become a
better person or moreover becoming a man of God. So what I learned from chapter
one is a man of God respects and praises others and his parents, recognizes his
trials and seeks the Lords help to overcome them, receives inspiration and
listens, is learned, makes records of his dealings, prays unto the Lord in
behalf of others, Praises God!, Follows orders from on high, does not fear men,
and is chosen by the Lord. I personally want to also focus on the last one,
being chosen of the Lord, after all we are all called on by the Lord to serve
him, but being chosen I feel has a deeper meaning and takes more action. Just a
few insights from my personal study.”

As I read
these emails, I saw missionaries who are growing, learning and yearning to
edify others. I hope that we can interact to edify in all that we do.

Learning about Apartment Cleanliness and CO Monitor Safety through Jeapardy!

Birthdays:

Lunch!

APs train on Focusing on the Fundamentals:

Beautiful musical number:

This convert of two years (on left) was taught the gospel by this sister (on right) while she was serving as a short-term missionary in Taipei. Short-term missionaries are usually youth who serve for a week during their summer vacation. The sister went on to serve a full-time mission, during which she was able to go through the temple with her new convert who was preparing to serve a mission.

The new convert submitted her mission application and received her call to the same mission!

There were many tears shed for joy as they were able to see each other for the first time, both as missionaries for the Taiwan Taichung Mission!